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Death Penalty Sought for Accused Machete Killer

Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue says he will seek the death penalty for a Fort Smith man accused of killing two men with a machete in June. Grego...

Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue says he will seek the death penalty for a Fort Smith man accused of killing two men with a machete in June.

Gregory Aaron Kinsey, 20, accused of attacking and killing two men, Nathan Young and Brandon Prince, with a machete in Fort Smith on June 26.  Kinsey is charged with two counts of capital murder.

Shue filed a letter with the circuit clerk's office Thursday stating that he was planning to seek the death penalty, according to circuit court clerk.

In the letter, Shue states the sufficiency of the evidence linking the Defendant to the offense; the seriousness of the offense; the Defendant's culpability (including his mental state; and the Defendant's criminal record as factors in why he feels the death penalty is appropriate.

According to court documents, Kinsey said he was walking back from the Dollar Store when he was confronted by three people. Kinsey and the victims exchanged words and Kinsey pulled out a machete to warn them, the documents state.

Kinsey told police he didn’t think the men would let him go so he started swinging the machete, striking and killing two of them.

"The death penalty is definitely what needs to be done," said Pamela Hearne, whose son Prince, was killed in the attack. "He killed my son, he killed Nate, and it just kills me. I mean I don't sleep at night."

Prince and Young were with Maynard on June 26th during the attack. Maynard is the only survivor.

"I just try not to relive it," Maynard said. "Nothing's going to bring my friends back. So I mean I have rough nights and rough days. I just try to cope with it as best as I can."

Maynard says he feels the death penalty is appropriate in this case.

"To have a massacre done like that to me, I really hope he does have justice served."

5NEWS did reach out to Kinsey's mother for reaction but she declined to comment. Her son is still being held at the Sebastian County Detention Center without bond. Officials there say his next court date is pending.

Click here for more coverage of this case.

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